By: Ellen Meister
Narrator: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
ISBN: 978-1662520891
Publisher: Montlake
Publication Date: 09/01/2024
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Welcome to Divorce Towers, the Beverly Hills condo where there’s more money than sense…more drama than money…and more heat than one high-rise can hold.
Addison Torres has nothing left to lose in New York: no job, no fiancé, no parents to lean on. So when Uncle Arnie offers her a concierge gig in sunny California, she hops on a plane without looking back.
Before it all came crashing down, Addison had a matchmaking career and handsome partner―then she got a little too cozy with a client. Digging her way out of the wreckage, she’s taken a strict vow of celibacy.
Unfortunately, Addison’s new home is where such promises go to die. As concierge at the luxurious Beekman Towers―nicknamed “Divorce Towers” due to the constant influx of the newly single―she’s in constant demand by Beverly Hills’ most eligible and entitled bachelors. Like Dante, a cocksure talent agent. And Zach, an adorable tech wizard.
Addison Torres thinks she’s ready for anything except love. But in Divorce Towers, the world’s toughest concierge may have finally met her match.
Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
About the Author
Ellen Meister is a novelist, book coach, screenwriter, and creative writing instructor who started her career writing advertising copy. Her novels include Take My Husband; The Rooftop Party; Love Sold Separately; Dorothy Parker Drank Here; Farewell, Dorothy Parker; The Other Life; and more. Meister’s essays have appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Newsday, the Wall Street Journal blog, the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast, Long Island Woman, Writer’s Digest, and Publishers Weekly.
Career highlights include appearing on NPR, being selected for the prestigious Indie Next List by the American Booksellers Association, having her work translated into foreign languages, and receiving a TV series option from HBO.
Meister lives in New York and publicly speaks about her books, fiction writing, and America’s most celebrated literary wit, Dorothy Parker.
For more information, visit https://ellenmeister.com.
Connect with the Author
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
"Behind the Book & The Author"
with bestselling Author Ellen Meister
Welcome to the first September 2024 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Joining us for the first time is a long-time favorite— special guest and bestselling author Ellen Meister with her ninth novel, DIVORCE TOWERS.
Join us as Ellen shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author!
Welcome, Ellen!
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for DIVORCE TOWERS?
EM: Addison Torres has nothing left to lose—no job, no fiancé, no parents. So she leaves New York for a gig as concierge at a pricey Beverly Hills highrise, only to discover she’s essentially camp counselor to the rich, glamorous, and newly unshackled.
Q. SETTING: Tell us more about the book setting and why you selected it.
EM: Most cities have their own version of Divorce Towers—the place where the newly separated go when their marriages fall apart. I thought that might make a fascinating setting for a novel. (All that heartbreak! All that drama!) At the same time, I’d been toying with the idea of writing a fish-out-of-water story. That’s what prompted the idea to take a girl from Queens and plop her into this insanely entitled and ostensibly glamorous Beverly Hills condo. I also thought it might be a fun exercise for me to imagine my characters in this glitzy setting while sitting cross-legged in front of my computer on Long Island in my stretched-out yoga pants.
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging?
EM: Safe to say it was the character of Arnie, Addison’s great uncle, who surprised and delighted me the most. I crafted him as a seventy-five-year old who’s kind of a player, but driven more by romance than simply sex. As I developed him, I discovered more and more about his heart, which turned out to be more complex than I expected. It was through Arnie that I discovered the soul of this book.
Q. DORTHY PARKER: You have written several books (loved) about America’s most celebrated literary wit, Dorothy Parker. In this novel there is a wink or two to Dorothy. What is your favorite quote, book, or thing about the author?
EM: I’m glad you caught my sneaky references to Dorothy Parker! There’s so much about her I admire—her wit, her unique take on heartbreak, and her social conscience. But the thing that continues to delight and surprise me is the freshness of her voice. You can read a Parker story written a hundred years ago and the voice feels edgy and new.
Q. TAKEAWAY: What important message, theme, or takeaway would you like readers to be left with when reading your book?
EM: I’d love for readers to understand that it’s never too late to start over.
Q. UPCOMING: Share with us more about your upcoming tenth novel, JOYRIDE?
EM: Thanks for asking! JoyRide is about a woman Uber driver who becomes a life coach from the front seat of her car. Set in Brooklyn, the story centers on her attempts to navigate a relationship with her crusty father, as well as a love life of her own. Keep an eye out for it in the spring!
Thank you, Ellen! Continue reading below for more up close and personal with the author.
Behind the Author
CURRENT STATE?
New York
ZODIAC SIGN?
Scorpio!
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
There may be nothing more holy than the sunlight on Jones Beach.
ONE QUESTION YOU NEVER GET ASKED AT INTERVIEWS, BUT WISH YOU DID? Ask and Answer.
This is from J.D. Salinger: “Were most of your stars out? Were you busy writing your heart out?” On most days, the answer is yes.
DOG/CAT LOVER?
Ruby and Theo would be devastated if I didn’t say dog lover.
FAVORITE HOBBY?
Reading.
IF YOU WERE STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR ALONE WITH ONE CELEBRITY, AUTHOR, OR CHARACTER— WHO WOULD IT BE? (Male or Female)
I think most people who know me can guess my answer—Dorothy Parker.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH READERS KNEW ABOUT YOU?
I care about every sentence and every word.
FAVORITE TV SERIES? (Or Movie/Video) binge-watch, series, etc.?
I don’t think anything rivals Breaking Bad.
DESCRIBE ONE THING ON YOUR DESK, CURRENTLY?
A nearly-empty cup of coffee. Time for a refill!
WHICH DO YOU ENJOY WRITING MORE: DIALOGUE OR INTERNAL THOUGHTS?
Dialogue. It’s my music.
DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING?
No. I need to hear my characters.
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
My tenth book will be published this spring.
INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT?
I think most people would assume I’m an extrovert, as I’m not shy and have no stage fright. But when I take those online quizzes, I usually fall into the extreme end of introvert, verging on sociopathy. But that just means I’m very private and internal when it comes to solving my own problems.
YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A PARENT?
My favorite thing is that all three of them are smarter than me.
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?
Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren.
THE CRAZIEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE FOR BOOK RESEARCH?
I took an expensive, exclusive tour of the QVC studio.
NAME SOMETHING YOU FEAR?
Fascism.
WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?
Cruelty.
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
My husband.
Thank you, Ellen, for spending time with us today!
Praise
“Ellen Meister’s DIVORCE TOWERS is utterly charming. From the first paragraph to the very last line, it is filled with wit and sexy and truth and the unexpected. You will fall in love with Addison Torres as I did. Smart, sassy, and heartbreakingly real. All of Meister’s characters are all so identifiable and relatable, some you’ll even want as friends. This book will make you laugh, spit up your coffee, and yes, cry… sometimes in the very same chapter. Do yourself a favor, buy this book, curl up with it and let it transport you for a few hours and a few days. It’s that good. A must read.”
- Amy Ferris, author of Mighty Gorgeous, A Little Book About Messy Love
“Welcome to Divorce Towers, a high-end Beverly Hills condo filled with romantic intrigue, matchmaking, and a missing Faberge egg. Featuring Ellen Meister's trademark blend of humor and heart, the novel is a delicious escape!”
- Deborah Kalb, author of Off to Join the Circus
“Ellen Meister’s Divorce Towers is a delightful romp of a read. Its ‘will she or won’t she’ protagonist Addison Torres has to deal with what has to be one of the quirkiest casts of characters in the genre of romcom--rich, beautiful, mostly ‘of a certain age’ and full of all the emotions and desires generally assigned to much younger characters. Refreshing to say the least. Grab a cocktail, settle onto a pool chaise and plunge into Meister’s fabulous fiction.”
- Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of One Good Dog
“Ellen Meister's Divorce Towers is a sizzling cocktail of Hollywood glamour, romantic mishaps, and laugh-out-loud moments. A must-read for those who crave whip-smart humor and a touch of deliciously naughty fun! ”
- Jeannie Moon, USA Today Bestselling Author
“Steamy, smart, and sassy, with an entertaining cast of characters and a romance to root for, Divorce Towers is a book to devour!”
- Liz Michalski, bestselling author of Darling Girl
“Word of warning: once you start this delightful book, you’re not going to stop reading till it’s finished.”
- Jeff Arch, author of Attachments, screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle
My Review
Ellen Meister (a favorite author) returns following Take My Husband and her popular Dorothy Parker stories with her ninth novel, a fun romp adventure of second chances and reinvention—DIVORCE TOWERS.
A young woman at her lowest takes a job in Beverly Hills among the rich and shameless, with more scandal and drama, than she bargained for.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
About...
Meet Addison Torres, a native of Queens, NY, with nothing left to lose— no job, no fiancé, no parents. She was fired from her best and worst job. A Manhattan premier matchmaker to the rich. Her boss was toxic. She made a mistake with a client, and her engagement with Marco ended.
That part of her life is over. After all this and more, she has taken a vow of celibacy.
She is about to start her new life. A new job.
Her great Uncle Arnie (her last living relative) offers her a concierge job at his glamorous highrise Beverly Hills condo in sunny LA, California.
She was a genius at finding matches for other people, but not so much when it came to herself.
Dr. Arnold Glass (Uncle Arnie), her last living relative, age 75, is a retired plastic surgeon. He is a player and a charmer.
Addison would be their building's new concierge at the luxurious Beekman Towers―(Divorce Towers) named for all the newly single residents with the most eligible and entitled bachelors.
Divorce Towers is for the uberwealthy, where affluent people move when their marriage falls apart or their spouse kicks them out.
Soon, Addison finds this condo is a Peyton Place and every divorcee over fifty wants a piece of her uncle. There are breakups, drama, gossip, and mystery. As a concierge, she would essentially be a camp counselor to the rich, glamorous, and naughty.
She must make this work.
She observes her uncle is dating airheads, bimbos, and stoners. She knows he needs a woman of substance. With her matchmaking skills, she is on a mission to find the perfect woman for her uncle.
In the meantime, there are two men who grab her attention—Zack, a caring tech geek, and Dante, a talent agent. The last thing she wants is a romantic relationship.
Will she find her uncle the perfect woman?
My thoughts...
DIVORCE TOWERS is wickedly delicious, hilarious, and highly entertaining; readers will enjoy this group of wild seniors and this cast of colorful characters, where there is never a dull moment. Full of humor, heart, mystery, scandal, and second chances with a bit of romance!
I have been a huge fan of the author for many years and loved the wink to America’s most celebrated literary wit, Dorothy Parker. Ellen writes compelling, compassionate novels with characters you come to know and love.
Told from multiple POVs, Addison, Carly, and Arnie, the author keeps you entertained until the satisfying ending. I enjoyed Addison, Zach, and Uncle Arnie’s journey and the ending.
THE DIVORCE TOWERS is a fun, light-hearted story with quirky characters, full of wit and sass. It is never too late to start over.
Having lived in my share of high-rises with seniors, trust me there is always something going down (the fictional tale is very realistic).
I adore Ellen Meister's books and her dark humor (her Dorothy Parker and others). Stay tuned for her upcoming book, JOYRIDE (2025)
Interview...
Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries where we go behind the book, and up close and personal with this talented author.
Recs...
For fans of the author, Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan, Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Weiner, Kaira Rouda, and Sally Hepworth.
Thanks to Montlake for a gifted digital advanced review copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
@JudithDColins.com | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 1, 2024
